South Korea and the United States are set to commence their annual large-scale military exercise this month, a move designed to bolster readiness against escalating North Korean threats. The joint drills are, however, likely to provoke an angry response from Pyongyang, further straining diplomatic efforts.

Threat posed by Pyongyang's growing nuclear arsenal and advancing missile technology will be the focus of the exercise

Key Points and Summary – As U.S. President Trump prepares to meet his South Korean counterpart, their alliance faces a fundamental crisis: North Korea’s proven ability to strike the U.S. mainland with nuclear-tipped ICBMs.